Highlights for Friday, 17 May 2019
Officials celebrate the successful conclusion of the Sixth Global Platform (L-R:) Marwa El-Menshawy, UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) Stakeholder Mechanism; Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for DRR; Co-Chair Manuel Sager, State Secretary and Director-General of the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation, Switzerland; and Kirsi Madi, Director, UNDRR.
The final day of the Sixth 2019 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (GP2019) in Geneva, Switzerland, featured a high-level dialogue and several working sessions, including talks on national and local disaster risk reduction (DRR) strategies, multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS), and the role of cities in achieving inclusive climate and disaster resilience.
High-level dialogue participants discussed how to work towards achieving the international agendas set out in the Sendai Framework for DRR, the Paris Agreement on climate, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in a coherent manner, with a strong focus on reducing vulnerability and poverty. Participants observed that urbanization is the defining demographic trend of this century, and requires resilient and inclusive infrastructure.
Events of the day culminated in the announcement of the 2019 RISK Award winner, which this year went to Nandan Mukherjee at the University of Dundee, for his work in developing floating homes in Bangladesh. The biennial award recognizes outstanding projects in the field of risk reduction and disaster management, and provides €100,000 for project activities, given by the Munich Re Foundation.
Closing the event, Co-Chair Manuel Sager, State Secretary and Director-General of the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation, Switzerland, presented highlights from the Co-Chairs’ summary of the Sixth Global Platform, and offered concluding thoughts on what had been achieved during the week: strong exchanges between the DRR and climate action communities; 50% representation of women on panels; multi-stakeholder participation, including by city mayors; and discussions of “the resilience dividend” that can be achieved through action on DRR. He urged more countries to develop and report on DRR strategies at the national and local levels through the Sendai Framework Monitor, an online tool for reporting and analysis.
Co-Chair Mami Mizutori, Assistant Secretary-General and Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG), said the 2019 Global Assessment Report sends a clear message that risk is complex and systemic, exacerbates inequality, and preys on the vulnerable. She sounded a call to delegates that “our cause is just and right.” She declared the conference closed at 5:49 PM.
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage, daily reports, and a summary report from GP2019, which is available in HTML and PDF.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Ángeles Estrada
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High-Level Dialogue
Panelists at the High-Level Dialogue on pursuing coherence between the Sendai Framework, the 2030 Agenda and the Paris Agreement (L-R): Minata Samate Cessouma, Commissioner for Political Affairs African Union; Norbert Barthle, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany; Audrey Aumua, Pacific Community; Javier Abugattas Fatule, Head, National Center for Strategic Planning (CEPLAN), Peru; and Koko Warner, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Norbert Barthle, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany, and Audrey Aumua, Pacific Community
Javier Abugattas Fatule, Head of CEPLAN (National Center for Strategic Planning), Peru; and Koko Warner, UNFCCC
Minata Samate Cessouma, African Union
Working Sessions
Panelists at a working session discuss “Ensuring Coordination in the Development and Implementation of National Risk Reduction Strategies and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)” (L-R): Hana Hamadalla Mohamed, Chair of the Least Developed Countries Expert Group; Emmanuel Guzman, Climate Change Commission, Philippines; and Nazhat Shameem Khan, Fiji.
Participants crowd into a meeting room to hear speakers on “Ensuring Coordination in the Development and Implementation of National Risk Reduction Strategies and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).”
Panelists address the room at a working session on “Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems: Progress and Challenges to Achieve Target G” (L-R): Peter Felten, Germany; Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO); and Saima Hossain, Shuchona Foundation, Bangladesh
Osvaldo Luiz Leal de Moraes, Director of the National Early Warning and Monitoring Centre of Natural Disasters, Brazil
Guleid Artan, Director, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Climate Prediction and Applications Centre (ICPAC), and Esline Garaebiti, Vanuatu
Panelists address the working session on “Cities on the forefront of achieving inclusive climate and disaster resilience” (L-R): Aromar Revi, Director, Indian Institute for Human Settlements; Farah Kabir, ActionAid, Bangladesh; Sami Kanaan, Mayor of Geneva, Switzerland; Desmond McKenzie, Minister of Local Government and Community Development, Jamaica; Cinthia Borjas Valenzuela, Municipality of the Central District of Tegucigalpa, Honduras; and Maruxa Cardama, Secretary-General, Partnership on Sustainable, Low Carbon Transport (SloCaT)
Delegates take part in a working session on “Cities on the forefront of achieving inclusive climate and disaster resilience.”
Farah Kabir, Country Director, ActionAid, Bangladesh
Cinthia Borjas Valenzuela, Municipality of the Central District of Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Risk Award
Thomas Loster, Chairman, Munich Re Foundation; Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General (SRSG) for DRR; and Nandan Mukarjhee, University of Dundee
Mami Mizutori, Special Representative of SRSG for DRR
Thomas Loster, Chairman, Munich Re Foundation
Around the Venue
Minata Samate Cessouma, Commissioner for Political Affairs African Union; Audrey Aumua, Pacific Community; Javier Abugattas Fatule, Head, National Center for Strategic Planning (CEPLAN), Peru; Norbert Barthle, Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Germany; and Koko Warner, UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Participants from Nigeria pose for a photograph (L-R): Luqman Salami, Maryam Yau, Ochanya Ruth Anike, and Mustapha Yunusa.
Participants around the venue
A 3-D printer on display at the conference venue offers possibilities for making equipment that can be used in emergencies.
An exhibit shows the use of 3-D printers in emergencies.
